The archipelago, consisting of more than 80 islands with a population of approximately 270,000 people, suffered widespread damage across all of its six provinces – Torba, Sanma, Penama, Malampa, Shefa, and Tafea. Tropical Cyclone Pam’s eye passed close to Efate Island in Shefa Province, where the capital Port Vila is located, with winds at around 250 km/hr and gusts peaking at 320 km/hr. A total of 166,600 people were estimated to have been affected by the cyclone – more than half the country’s population. Shefa and Tafea were the hardest hit provinces. In Erromango Island, up to 90 per cent of shelters were wiped out, whilst in Tanna Island 50 per cent of shelters were destroyed. Food stocks were also destroyed and water sources destroyed or contaminated. Estimates were that 95 per cent of crops were destroyed in the affected areas, leaving communities food insecure. (UNDAC, 4 Apr 2015)

The Prime Minister of Vanuatu and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Vanuatu launched a humanitarian response Flash Appeal on 24 March...The Flash Appeal seeks US$29.9 million to ensure that initial support provided by the Government, donors and humanitarian partners can be sustained to cover the needs of affected people until 24 June 2015. (OCHA, 24 Mar 2015)

The Regional Food Security Atlas of the Pacific is a joint publication by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the World Food Programme(WFP).

The 2018 Atlas provides a spatial overview of the core issues that affect food security across the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Divided into nine topical sections, the Atlas provides the reader with information and knowledge on the causes and outcomes of food security and nutrition in the region.

As part of an ongoing effort to promote disability-inclusive humanitarian action in Pacific countries, this policy brief identifies priority actions for disaster readiness, response and recovery. It has been prepared through a collaborative approach and should be a key reference in the future, promoting coordination across all levels and stages of the humanitarian cycle in the Region.

A warehouse in Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, holds 10 huge shipping containers filled to the brim with discarded goods and rotting food. This is what’s left of the massive piles of donations sent to the South Pacific nation in the aftermath of the most powerful storm to strike the remote island group, nearly three years ago.

In total, Vanuatu received donations that filled 77 large containers after Cyclone Pam ripped through the country in March 2015. Heartfelt offerings perhaps, but unfortunately much of it was unusable.

In the face of climate change, the world continues to witness frequent and large-scale disasters. In the rst half of 2017 alone, 149 natural disasters occurred in 73 countries resulting in 3,162 deaths, affecting 80 million people and resulting in the estimated loss of US$32.4 billion.

For many Pacific Island countries, natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis, are an all-too common occurrence. Out of the top 15 most at-risk countries for natural disasters globally, four are Pacific Island countries, and Vanuatu is consistently at the top.

Early results of Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems initiative presented at climate change conference

Vulnerable communities in Africa and the Pacific and Caribbean are now benefiting from improved early warning systems against extreme weather as part of an international drive to boost resilience and climate change adaptation. But further investments are needed to reduce the risks from hazards like tropical cyclones, floods and drought.

SUVA, Fiji, Nov 8 2017 (IPS) - In the Pacific, climate change is an ever-present threat, undermining human rights, livelihoods, and security. Pacific Islanders are working with courage and resolve to build the resilience of their communities and to catalyse international actions towards ending global carbon pollution.

Over the past decades in the Pacific, schools have been used by students, families and
internally displaced people as unplanned and sometimes long-term shelters during disasters,
by students, families and internally displaced people. They have also been occupied by fighting
forces during conflict.

These conditions have disrupted education, caused damage to educational facilities and
equipment, and put children at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. This has given rise to
calls from policy makers and field practitioners for guidance.

Vanuatu and Fiji are experiencing climate-induced disasters that are continuously increasing in both scale and frequency. Both nations have been struck by a number of disastrous cyclones over the past three years – most notably Cyclone Pam, which struck Vanuatu in 2015 and Cyclone Winston, which struck Fiji in 2016.

In response, ActionAid is supporting women in Fiji and Vanuatu to lead community efforts to strengthen their resilience to increasing disasters.

Port Vila, 15 September 2017: Today, about 2500 people in Erromango will access safer and more secure water supplies, thanks to the Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources and its partners, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and CARE, officially handing over repaired and improved water and sanitation infrastructure to communities across Erromango.

PORT VILA, VANUATU (10 August 2017) — The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors is providing $8.2 million in total additional financing to continue the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and climate-proofing of roads affected by Cyclone Pam.

The additional funding consists of a $4.1 million loan and a $4.1 million grant from ADB’s Ordinary Capital Resources and the Asian Development Fund, respectively. The Government of Vanuatu is also contributing $1.2 million in the project.